Registration is completed in two stages: Pre-Registration and Drop/Add.

Pre-Registration for New and Former Students
Degree-seeking students who are newly admitted or readmitted to the College receive a course registration form from Patrick Henry College in the months prior to (re-)enrollment. Once submitted, and upon completion of all requirements relating to enrollment communicated by the Office of Admissions, the Office of the Registrar will enroll students into courses according to preferences listed on this form; other factors include course availability, an academic program's recommended course sequence, transfer courses, and the academic background of the student. Students should contact the Office of Admissions regarding submission deadlines.

Pre-Registration for Continuing Students
Continuing student pre-registration occurs during the semester prior to continued enrollment, according to the Academic Calendar. Eligibility to preregister is limited to those students who have no unreconciled obligations, financial or otherwise. Academic advisors are available to assist students in their preparation for pre-registration and must clear students to register for courses. Once cleared by their advisor, students may register online during the dates provided by the Office of the Registrar. Registration for certain courses or for inclusion on waiting lists may require the submission of the Registration & Schedule Update form. Continuing students who seek to register after the end of the pre-registration period are assessed the Late Registration Fee.

Check-In Day
Students are required to check-in according to their designated date, time, and procedure. Pre-registered students who do not check-in at the beginning of the semester forfeit their schedules and may lose their seat in pre-registered courses. Additionally, the College charges a Late Check-in Fee to students who do not adhere to their designated date, time, and procedure.

Check-in is not complete until all obligations are fully met, including financial and administrative requirements.

Adding and Dropping Courses
Beginning on the first day of the term, all students may add or drop courses; the end of the drop/add period is specified on the Academic Calendar. Dropped courses do not appear on the student's transcript. Students may not add or drop courses after the drop/add period.

Auditing
Students may audit one course per semester if they meet all prerequisites for the course and receive the approval of the instructor and the Registrar. Students who audit a course do not receive credit, earn a grade, or take exams; auditing students may not tax the instructor’s time. The deadline for changing a course from audit to credit or credit to audit is the end of the drop/add period. Students taking courses for credit receive priority in registering for courses.

Waitlists
Each semester, registration opens in a manner that gives students preference according to their class level. Once a course reaches the enrollment cap, no other students may add the course. Students may request to be placed on the Waitlist. The Waitlist is provided so that students can express their interest in adding the course to their schedule.

If pre-registered students choose not to matriculate and as students adjust their schedules during the drop/add period, the Office of the Registrar makes enrollment decisions for students on the Waitlist based on several factors including seniority, eligibility, availability, credit load, course sequencing, and date of entry onto the Waitlist. Students who believe their special circumstances merit additional consideration may email their need to the Office of the Registrar.

Withdrawing from a Course
After the conclusion of the drop period, students may withdraw from a course by completing the Registration & Schedule Update form. Withdrawing from a course before the mid-point of the term (as specified on the Academic Calendar) will be recorded as a “W” (Withdrawn) on the transcript, with no effect on the student’s grade point average.

Course withdrawals after the mid-point (as specified on the Academic Calendar) are recorded as a “WP” or “WF” (withdrawn passing or withdrawn failing, respectively). “WP” has no effect on grade point average; “WF” is treated like an “F”.

A student may not withdraw from a course in the final two weeks of the semester or during final exams (as specified on the Academic Calendar).

Students who choose not to follow the correct withdrawal procedures may receive an "F" for the course involved and may incur continuing costs.

Students who withdraw from the same course twice must receive permission from the Department Chairman prior to registering for the course a third time.

Attendance
Students are STRONGLY encouraged to attend each and every class scheduled during the semester. There is no better way to perform well in any class than by attending the regularly scheduled lectures. However, there may be times when students cannot make a lecture, due to illness, participation in a sanctioned college event, or other conflicting commitments. While students should strive to avoid such conflicts, college is a very busy time and conflicts may occur.

Patrick Henry College does not mandate an academic penalty for a student who misses a class, although a zero may be received for any unfulfilled class requirements. Students participating in college sanctioned events will know about any conflicts well in advance and are expected to discuss these with their professors to arrange for dealing with affected assignments prior to the absence.

Freshmen and Sophomores who log two absences not attributed to being involved in a college sanctioned event will be subject to an interview with any professor teaching a core course. It is the expectation of the College that students will grow more mature in managing their schedules as they progress through their time at Patrick Henry College. After graduation, this kind of time management will be an indispensable skill, and the College seeks to train students in this skill while they are enrolled.

Final Exams
All classes must meet during final exam week for an exam or other significant educational activity. Students may not reschedule final exams; however, if a student has three exams scheduled on the same day, he or she may request permission to reschedule one to another date. Students seeking to reschedule an exam should speak with the instructor of the course.